Chevron's Pipeline Is the Burmese Regime's Lifeline

[Andre II]

"Chevron's role in propping up the brutal regime in Burma is clear. According to Marco Simons, U.S. legal director at EarthRights International: "Sanctions haven't worked because gas is the lifeline of the regime. Before Yadana went online, Burma's regime was facing severe shortages of currency. It's really Yadana and gas projects that kept the military regime afloat to buy arms and ammunition and pay its soldiers."

The U.S. government has had sanctions in place against Burma since 1997. A loophole exists, though, for companies grandfathered in. Unocal's exemption from the Burma sanctions has been passed on to its new owner, Chevron.

Rice served on the Chevron board of directors for a decade. She even had a Chevron oil tanker named after her. While she served on the board, Chevron was sued for involvement in the killing of nonviolent protesters in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Like the Burmese, Nigerians suffer political repression and pollution where oil and gas are extracted and they live in dire poverty. The protests in Burma were actually triggered by a government-imposed increase in fuel prices.

Human-rights groups around the world have called for a global day of action on Saturday, Oct. 6, in solidarity with the people of Burma. Like the brave activists and citizen journalists sending news and photos out of the country, the organizers of the Oct. 6 protest are using the Internet to pull together what will probably be the largest demonstration ever in support of Burma. Among the demands are calls for companies to stop doing business with Burma's brutal regime."
http://www.alternet.org/rights/64310/

Any comments, Condy?

[riverdeep]

1. Pressure is being put on French company, Total, to leave.

Total is the fourth largest oil company in the world, and along with Chevron, supplies the military regime with the money to oppress it's citizens. The regime that's held the leadership of that country in lockdown for years now. What's interesting is the French government is doing just we would expect the Bush junta to do, keep up the facade. They are resisting efforts by the European Union to enact sanctions.

"TOTAL’s presence in Burma has consequences far beyond its 63-kilometre pipeline across Burmese territory. Its destructive influence goes to the heart of international policy towards one of the world’s most brutal regimes. For that reason it is essential for all those who want change in Burma to deal with the problem of TOTAL Oil. As long as TOTAL remains in Burma, the dictatorship will be satisfied that the chances of real pressure against it are unlikely."

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/total_report.html

As for America, Condy knows if she and her fellow hellspawn can just wait out a newscycle, Americans will be distracted by the next shiny object.

[Andre II]

2. Yeah, but France said

asking Total to leave Burma wouldn't change anything anyway.
Which I think it's a great way of reasoning Bush certainly would be happy to go along with ....